HIBAPRESS
The image of the Lebanese artist Fadel Shaker topped social media platforms in his first public appearance inside the Beirut Criminal Court. This historic appearance came in implementation of Shaker's decision to hand himself over to the authorities in October 2025, where he appeared before the judiciary on Friday, January 9, 2026, amid strict security measures, to begin a new phase of legal confrontation that preoccupied Arab public opinion for years.
The session, which lasted more than two hours, witnessed exciting details, as Shaker confronted Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir before the court. The statements of both parties matched in denying any relation of Shaker to financing or arming al-Assir's group. Fadel Shaker defended himself, stressing that his accusation of attempting to kill "Helal Hammoud" was intended to tarnish his image because of his political views, pointing out that he was subjected to financial extortion that led him to accept a settlement to end this case. The lawyer "Amata Mubarak" reinforced her client's position by submitting an official document proving the dropping of Helal Hammoud's civil right against Shaker after a financial settlement, which observers considered a major step towards his acquittal in this case. Based on these developments, the court decided to postpone the session to February 6, 2026, to summon Helal Hammoud and hear his final testimony, while the public remains in anticipation of what the coming sessions will lead to.
